Newriver puts in final £60 million Templars Square regeneration plans on show

NewRiver REIT plc (‘NewRiver’), the owner of Templars Square, Cowley, will present its final plans for its exciting £60 million mixed-use regeneration development at two public information drop-in sessions this month.

The sessions will be held after NewRiver submitted a planning application to Oxford City Council in November 2016 and before the application is determined later this year. The sessions will provide the local community with the opportunity to view the proposals, with members of the development team available throughout to answer questions.

There will be two sessions, located in Bank Court within Templars Square Shopping Centre (near Lloyds Bank and Peacocks) on:

Friday 20th January 2017, from noon to 5pm

Saturday 21st January 2017, from 10am to 4pm

NewRiver is committed to engaging and working with the local community and representative groups throughout construction, to mitigate any disruption caused. The dynamic mix of new uses proposed by NewRiver will improve the experience for shoppers and the wider local community. In turn this will attract new shoppers, encourage longer visits, support a welcoming local evening economy and act as a major catalyst to growth and further investment for the whole town. Around 60 new jobs will be created, alongside 300 construction jobs.

Allan Lockhart, Property Director of NewRiver, commented:

“We’re delighted to have submitted planning and to now present our exciting proposals again to the local community to show how we’ve incorporated previous feedback. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalise the heart of Cowley and these drop-in sessions demonstrate our long term investment in the town and our continuing commitment to work in partnership with the local community to deliver truly exceptional development.”

The proposals will preserve the much-loved existing Templars Square shops and bring forward a range of significant improvements. These include the addition of a hotel; new restaurant units for leading national operators; a dramatically improved streetscape and pedestrian routes; upgraded and modernised car parking; and stylish new feature entrances. The proposed development includes over 200 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including affordable housing meeting muchneeded demand for the area.

Feedback from the local community, gathered from two previous public consultation events in July/August and October 2015, attended by over 1,200 visitors, has been incorporated. This includes increased car park and public space investment, making provision for additional new restaurants and a focus on creating a more pedestrian-friendly experience on Between Towns Road.